Todd Augsburger wrote:

> Can someone supply me with the proper text for the top and bottom
> (curved) lines?  I assume that the top line is the product name,
> and the bottom line contains patent dates.

The top curved line is:        MANUFACTURED
The bottom curved line is:  Reissued Aug. 9 1881

> I also do not understand the purpose of a slotted brass hoop ...
> It looks as if it could be flipped upright and would hold something
> thin like a piece of paper, but what?  And why?

The original strip of music came with a 2-7/8" by 5-3/8" card, with the
words for the song on one side and a picture of the Autophone on the
other side.  You could slip this card into the brass hoop, when it was
flipped up, to read the words as you squeezed the instrument during
playing.

If anyone is interested, I could scan in an image of the card.

Ed Schmidt
eschmidt@crosslink.com
http://www.actionwebcreations.com/smr